Board Of Ed Approves Rules For Private Colleges

Saratoga, Wyoming – The state Board of Education has approvedmore detailed rules for revoking licenses for private schools. The action came yesterday (Tuesday) during the board's meetingin Saratoga. The rules would apply to universities that offer distanceeducation and maintain a presence in Wyoming. Superintendent of Public Instruction Trent Blankenship praisedthe changes but reiterated the department's position that the stateshould require accreditation from a third party. A legislative task force is working on a new private-schoollicensing law. Blankenship says he expects legislation requiringaccreditation to be introduced next year. The rule change followed board discussions in November ofpulling as many as four school licenses because of allegedviolations of state rules. However, attorneys for the department were concerned that thedepartment's existing rules weren't solid enough to go ahead withpulling a license.